With Navy jets soaring overhead and armed guards on
patrol, security measures at Coso give pause to those who would loot or
deface these invaluable petroglyphs. Unfortunately, other land management
agencies have neither the resources nor the staff power to provide such
security, especially for widespread, backcountry sites. Yet, it is the
mission of many of these agencies—including National Park Service—to
provide public access to cultural resources.

Petroglyphs and pictographs are part of our nation's cultural heritage
that cannot be removed to a museum or gallery. Viewing these images where
they were first created allows the viewer to appreciate them in the best
possible context. At the same time, it puts them at greater risk for vandalism—the
single most destructive force facing these irreplaceable images.

Spray-painting graffiti, carving initials, and removal
for collection or sale robs everyone of an invaluable part of our country's
rich cultural heritage. Moreover, each of these acts is punishable by
law, and some vandals have received both hefty fines and prison sentences
for the wanton removal and/or destruction of these images. While we cannot
always prevent the deterioration caused by the forces of nature, we can
prevent the damage caused by human hands. more
>>

In an effort to protect the petroglyphs and archeological
sites within the Coso Rock Art District, the Navy carefully controls access.
However, one may see some of the wonders of China Lake by taking a tour
that is available through the Maturango Museum.

Along with other museums, the Bureau of Land Management, the California
Office of Historic Preservation, and the California Native American Heritage
Commission, the Maturango Museum participates in the California Archaeological
Site Stewardship Program. Local volunteers receive training through this
program so they can assist archeologists to educate the public, discourage
vandalism and looting, and preserve sites.

One of the most important things a volunteer does as
a program participant is provide a presence at a site. This seems to be
a critical factor in discouraging illicit activities that destroy sites.
Volunteers regularly monitor sites and then report on their condition
to the field archeologist in charge. They may also assist in other activities
related to the preservation, protection, and public enjoyment of archeological
sites, such as site stabilization or trail maintenance.

Site Steward Programs are considered one of the most effective tools
for helping archeologists manage rock art sites and other archeological
resources. As a result, these programs have taken off in a number of states.

EYES IN THE SKY

Archeologists working at Coso have found an invaluable partner in the
U.S. Navy. During the recent 1990s studies, the Navy provided researchers,
expertise, and equipment to help archeologists test their theory that
rock art was concentrated in basaltic areas.

Flying in Navy helicopters, Navy geologists helped archeologists trace
the granite-basalt frontier. As they worked, archeologists noticed that
some petroglyphs were visible from the air, leading them to find numerous
new petroglyph panels unnoticed from the ground.

The flights and the expertise helped make the survey process much more
efficient, leading to more thorough coverage and revealing entirely new
features. One such discovery was the shooting star geoglyph,
which had never been recorded until a helicopter overflight.

PUBLIC OUTREACH

The Navy makes security a top priority, and the result is extraordinary
protection for Coso's petroglyphs. But it is also part of the Navy's mission
to provide regulated public access to these cultural resources.

To meet the challenge, the Navy has formed a partnership with the local
Maturango Museum to train petroglyph interpreters who lead daylong excursions
to Little Petroglyph Canyon, one of Coso's most remarkable concentrations
of rock art. Here, a group of visitors rest and look for petroglyphs before
their return hike back up the canyon.

TRADITIONAL USERS

Local Indians were forcefully removed from the area over a century ago,
but many still live nearby. Because the Navy has an obligation to them
as traditional users of the area, they periodically make arrangements
with local Indians who seek access to the Coso Hot Springs for healing
purposes.

Pictured here are the remains of a wooden sweat lodge used by local Paiutes
for curing rituals.